displace

displace — verb

1. to force something out of its original position or place, often through physical

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to force something out of its original position or place, often through physical pressure, movement, or natural forces.

Example

The earthquake displaced huge rocks along the mountain road, blocking traffic for hours.

displaced + concrete object + natural force subject

Water from the burst pipe displaced the soil beneath the shed, causing it to tilt.

Common collocations
  • displace soil
  • displace rocks
  • displace sediment
  • displaced by water
  • displaced from its position
Synonyms
  • shift

    less forceful; may be intentional or accidental

  • relocate

    implies deliberate movement to a new place; less violent

  • dislodge

    suggests something was firmly fixed and then forced out

Antonyms
  • anchor

    to hold firmly in place

  • secure

    to fix something so it cannot move

Grammar Patterns

displace + object

be displaced + by + noun

Usage Note

Object is usually a physical thing (rock, soil, water, furniture). Subject is often a natural force or mechanical pressure. Frequently used in passive voice with 'by' to show the cause of movement.

Common Mistakes

The earthquake displaced the rock.' (correct but incomplete).
The earthquake displaced the rock from its original position.
add 'from [location]' or 'by [agent]' when the original position matters.

2. to take the place of someone or something, especially when a newer or more effec

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to take the place of someone or something, especially when a newer or more effective thing or person pushes the older one out of use or position.

Example

Digital cameras have largely displaced film cameras in consumer photography.

technology displaces older technology

Electric vehicles are gradually displacing petrol-powered cars in urban areas.

Common collocations
  • displaced by technology
  • displaced by automation
  • gradually displaced
  • largely displaced
Synonyms
  • replace

    more general; does not imply force or conflict

  • supplant

    more formal; suggests deliberate pushing out

  • supersede

    formal; suggests the new thing is better or more advanced

  • oust

    stronger; suggests being forced out against one's will

Antonyms
  • retain

    to keep in place or use

  • preserve

    to keep the old thing in existence

Grammar Patterns

displace + noun

be displaced + by + noun

Usage Note

Subject is often a newer technology, product, method, or person. The thing being displaced is the older, less efficient, or less popular alternative. Can be used with both concrete objects (products) and abstract ones (methods, practices). Frequently passive.

Common Mistakes

The new machine displaced the old one.' (correct but vague).
The new machine displaced the old one in the factory because it was faster.
add context showing why the replacement happened.

3. to force people to leave their homes or native area, usually because of war, nat

3.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to force people to leave their homes or native area, usually because of war, natural disaster, development projects, or environmental change.

Example

The civil war displaced thousands of families from their homes and villages.

war as cause of displacement

Rising sea levels have displaced coastal communities in several Pacific island nations.

Common collocations
  • displaced people
  • displaced families
  • displaced communities
  • displaced by war
  • displaced by conflict
  • displaced from their homes
  • internally displaced
Synonyms
  • uproot

    more emotional; suggests loss of connection to home

  • evict

    legal process; implies a landlord or authority forces people out

  • expel

    usually from a country or institution; implies official action

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

displace + people/population

be displaced + from + location

Usage Note

Subject is typically a large-scale force (war, disaster, development). The objects are groups of people — families, communities, populations. Commonly followed by 'from + location.' This sense of displace is distinct from 'dismiss from a job' (sense 4) — here the focus is on losing one's home, not one's employment. The related noun 'displaced person' is a formal term used by humanitarian organisations.

Common Mistakes

The flood displaced many people.' (correct but lacks impact).
The flood displaced more than ten thousand families from their homes along the river.
add numbers and a location to convey the scale.

4. to remove someone from a job or position, especially when a change in the organi

4.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to remove someone from a job or position, especially when a change in the organisation or the economy makes their role unnecessary.

Example

The company displaced fifty workers when it moved its factory overseas.

company displaces workers via relocation

Automation has displaced many cashiers and ticket-collectors in the retail sector.

Common collocations
  • displaced workers
  • displaced employees
  • displaced by automation
  • displaced from a position
Synonyms
  • dismiss

    formal; may or may not imply fault

  • lay off

    usually due to economic reasons, not performance

  • discharge

    formal; often from a military or official role

Antonyms
  • hire

    to give someone a job

  • appoint

    to give someone an official position

Grammar Patterns

displace + worker/employee

be displaced + from + position

Usage Note

Subject is usually a company, a change in business structure, or a new person in authority. The person displaced is typically an employee or office-holder. This sense overlaps with sense 2 (take the place of) but is narrower — it specifically involves employment and often carries a more negative, impersonal tone. The object is always a person or group of workers, never a technology or product.

Common Mistakes

The manager displaced him.' (ambiguous — could mean physical movement or job removal).
The manager displaced him from his position as team leader.
use 'from [position]' to make the employment meaning clear.

Word family

  • displacement
    nounB2
  • displaced
    adjectiveB2
  • displaceable
    adjectiveC1
  • displacer
    nounC1
  • undisplaced
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words describe one thing taking the position of another, but with different nuances. 'Replace' is the most general and neutral — you can replace a lightbulb, a colleague, or a habit. 'Displace' adds the idea of pushing the original out, often through pressure or changing circumstances (e.g., 'digital cameras displaced film cameras'). 'Supplant' is more formal and deliberate, suggesting a calculated effort to remove the earlier person or thing ('the upstart supplanted the longtime chairman'). 'Supersede' focuses on obsolescence — the new thing is better, more modern, or more effective ('the new regulation supersedes the old one'). In everyday conversation, 'replace' is the safest choice; 'displace' fits contexts involving social or technological change; 'supplant' and 'supersede' belong in formal or academic writing.

displace ↗replace ↗supplant ↗supersede

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • be displaced by
  • displace someone from
  • displaced person
  • displaced population

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

Displace comes from Old French 'desplacer', formed from 'des-' (away, apart) and 'placer' (to place). It entered English in the 16th century with the meaning 'to remove from its proper place.' The sense of 'taking the place of' developed in the 17th century, and the humanitarian meaning (forcing people from their homes) became prominent in the 20th century with the rise of large-scale conflicts and displacement crises.